The Pittsburgh Penguins have been around for more than four decades now, having been one of the original expansion teams when the NHL doubled in size in 1967, moving from six to twelve teams that season. The Penguins, like most expansion teams, had their share of bumps along the road early on in their existence. In the early 1980s they were among the worst teams in the league. However, those lean years that fans were forced to endure eventually paid big dividends.

1984-85 was a turning point for the franchise. After an horrific 1983-84 campaign the Pens found themselves in the enviable position of having the #1 overall pick in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. That season they were particularly fortunate to have the coveted selection as it was the draft year of a once in a generation player. That player - Mario Lemieux - had absolutely decimated the record book in junior, and his addition to the Penguins turned the team from league doormats to Stanley Cup contenders within a half a decade.

Lemieux, with help from other stars like Jaromir Jagr, Ron Francis, Mark Recchi and Paul Coffey, led the Pens to back to back Stanley Cups in 1991 & 1992, and the Pens remained a force to be reckoned with throughout the 90s.

Today's Pittsburgh Penguins are again perennial Stanley Cup threats. Led by another once in a generation player in Sidney Crosby, and with a supporting cast of stars that includes Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal and Marc-Andre Fleury, today's version of the team bears striking similarity to the dominant club of the early 90s. Though their nucleus is still young the team has already been to the Stanley Cup Finals twice, winning it all in 2009. If they can keep the core together (and healthy) look for this club to add more Stanley Cup championship banners to the rafters.